Day Out Ricote Valley
The whole day is all about scenery, history and relaxation. We like to start at the northerly end of the valley with a town called Cieza. It was a major settlement during Moorish time, today it is an agricultural town producing mainly peaches and olives. The next stop, is a short drive away at Abaran to see the Noria Grande or the Big Waterwheel. Take a stroll along the River Segura to discover more waterwheels, all of which transport water from the river to irrigate the most distant plains. Driving on through the valley you can take a deviation up to the village of Ricote, which is a delightful little hamlet with a few restaurants and lots of Moorish architecture. Returning to the valley floor, enjoy the views as you make your way slowly via Ojos and Villanueva to the Balneario in Archena with its thermal pools.
You can alter the day in many ways. You might like to add a stop at the small hamlets of Ojos and Villanueva as you pass through them on driving along the base of the valley, or spend the whole day in Cieza, or in Abaran walking or cycling along the Rio Segura between the waterwheels or at the thermal baths in Archena. You can even fit in a stop at the shopping malls on the outskirts of Murcia as you drive past them – remember they are open until 22.00!
Places to stop during a day out Ricote Valley
- Cieza: large town with many shops, bars and restaurants, visit the tourist office for more information about the three museums and the whole of the Ricote Valley.
- Abaran: traditional large village with the waterwheel route that passes by four waterwheels.
- Ricote: very small village.
- Archena: known as Spa Valley, it is a thermal water resort with 2 large and modern thermal pools open to non-hotel guests (you must take a swimming hat and flip-flops).
Places of Interest
1 Cieza
N38°14.077 W1°24.853Parking: is on the road near the school (colegio) and is free.
From here: there are a few cafes for a coffee and cake, to explore the town walk back along the road that you have just driven along to the roundabout with the Arabic looking stone arches on it and turn left, walk straight on to the top of this street for the tourist office.
Places of interest and things to do in Cieza
- Town Centre: good selection of shops, cafes and restaurants.
- Tourist Office: for more information about Cieza and the whole of the Ricote Valley.
- Museums: The Teodoro Mill, Esparto museum and Medina Siyasa museum.
2 Abaran
N38°12.387 W1°24.128Parking: is in the 'pull off view area' and is free.
From here: enter the park by walking down the slope opposite the school towards the waterwheel, to find the river cross the park walking away from the wheel. For a short walk along the river turn right when facing the river, for a longer walk along the route of the four water wheels turn left and continue beside the river.
Places of interest and things to do in Abaran
- Village Centre: busy large village with good choice of shops, cafes and restaurants.
- Waterwheels: visit the main Noria Grande (big waterwheel) only or walk along beside the river along the waterwheel route to discover more wheels!
3 Ricote
N38°09.127 W1°21.928Parking: is on the road and is free.
From here: spend some time exploring the streets of this pretty small village and admire the views and fresh air, a good chance to stretch your legs, head to the church to discover the heart of the village.
Places of interest and things to do in Ricote
- Village Centre: very small with some beautiful old streets to explore with one or two cafes.
4 Archena Spa
N38°07.603 W1°18.123Parking: is on the roadside or in the resort car park and is free.
From here: walk along the road to enter the resort of Archena with its thermal baths and cafe.
Places of interest and things to do in Archena
- Thermal Baths: it has 2 large and modern thermal pools where the water is maintained at 34-36oC. There are also saunas of different temperatures and humidity, massage rooms, crosscurrent pools, warm hammocks, salt water floatation pools and much more. The thermal baths are open to non-hotel guests (you must take a swimming hat and flip-flops).
- Hotels & Restaurants: take a wander around these and have a nose, relax and enjoy a well earned drink in the peaceful surroundings of the oasis garden cafe.
